Oscillating-piston steam-engine.



' No. 694,485. Patented Mar.4, I902.

J. G. LEPPER.

' OSCILLATING PISTON STEAM ENGINE.

- [Application filed Apr. 15. 1901.) (lo Mode'l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES IVENTOR MW 1 f m. 694,485. I Patented Mar. 4, 1.902.

. J. a. LEPPER..

OSCIL'LA'TING HISTUNSTEAM ENGINE.

(Applicatipn filed Apr. 15. 1901.)

2 Sheefs-8het 2.

(No mm.)

WITNESSES I INVENTOR m: NORRIS mas ca. vuofoumwsumomn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. LEPPER, OF l/VATERBURY, CONhlECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO B. C. BLAKESLEE, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

OSClLL'ATlNG-P l STON STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 694,485, dated March 4, 1902.

(Application filed-April 15, 1901. Serial No.55,920. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. LEPPER, residing at Waterbury,in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'OscillatingPiston Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to steam-engines of" the class known as oscillating-piston engines, wherein the piston is held in acasing in form of segments of cylinders and the piston rocks on its center within the casing.

The obj oct of the invention is to enable the I 5 coupling of a plurality of such pistons by their rods to a single crank and to permit'the control or reversal of all the pistons by a single eccentric; also, to improve constructionsand combinations in engines of this class.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of one of the cylinders and pistons (line E F, Fig. 2) and an elevation of the other cylinder, with valvechamber in section or broken away, in a twocylinder engine. Fig.2 is an oblique section of one ofthe cylinders and'valve-chamber,

parts being broken away. (Line A B, Fig. 1.)

Fig. 3 is across-section on line C D, Fig. 2,

showing arrangementof steam-ports. Fig. 4 is a section through valve-chest and passages on line G'H, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of slide-valve. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the center of the shaft, showing most of the parts'in elevation. a detail section through eccentric; Fig. 8, an end elevation of the same; Fig. 9, a broken detail, in two positions, ofeccentric shifter or reversing key.

The cylinders 1 and 101 arepreferably duplicates. In each cylinder there are chambers 2 3 with intervening abutments 4. These abutments may be either hollow or solid. Shafts or hubs 5 105 are journaled in the center of cylinders 1 101, and the shafts have a crank-arm 6 (dotted lines, Fig. 1, full lines, Fig. 6) outside the cylinder and connected by pitmen 7 107 to a crank S on the main shaft 9that is, both pitmen are connected to a single crank by suitable coupling. As

the cylinders stand at an angle, preferably forty-five degrees, it is impossible that the two pitmen shall be on the dead-center atthe Fig. 7 is same time. The relations of the cranks 6 and 8 are such that the oscillation of crank 6 producesa rotation of crank 8, as is common in oscillating engines of this class. The

steam ports or passages are similar in their relation to each of the cylinders. steam admitted at 11 enters between the plugs Thus .12 12 of the slide-valve, which is thus balanced The valve-rods 13 and 113, to which plugs 12 are fixed, are connected to an eccentric, as will be described. The shifting of rod 13 or 113 causes the plugs 12 to open the a question of location of passages to have one slide-valve control the admission of steam to aplurality of cylinders. The arrowsin Figs. 1 and 2 indicate the direction of the steam in entering and leaving the cylinders. The valve-stems 13 113 are connected by hinges or pivots to the eccentric-straps 14 114:, which both surround the eccentric 16. Shaft 9 is hollow and has a slot 19 in one side. A key 20 is within the hollowshaft, with one end projecting therefrom. The key 20 has a pin 21 projecting from one side and extending through the slot 1.) in the shaft. The engagement with this slot causes the key to rotate as the shaft rotates. Pin 20 has a head 22 with angular sides. The pin-head 22 engages with the sides of the spiral slot 24 in a bushing 25, which bushing is rigid with the eccentric 16. i The eccentric 16 might be integral with bushing 25; butI prefer to make the bushing of hardened steel, while the cocentric may be made of cast-iron. Key 20 has stops 30, between which the forked end of lever 31 lies. Lever 31 is pivoted to a post 32, attached to the central web A. By shifting handle 33 the key 20 may be moved endwise, and by its pin engaging spiral slot in bushing 25 (which bushing formspart of eccentric 16) the eccentric may be moved rela- IOO relation to the shaft according to the position of the key 20. By shifting said key the position of the eccentric may be changed so as to control the cut oif of steam at difierent points or to reverse the engine by reversal of point of inlet of steam with relation to the throw of the pistons.

The engine maybe compounded by exhausting from one cylinder into another. In such case it is advisable that the second cylinder be larger, as usual in compound engines.

The operation of the machine will be understood by persons familiar with this class of engines. On admitting steam to one side of the pistons such pistons swing to the opposite side of the cylinders, carrying their crankarms through apart of a revolution and the crank-arms on the main shaft through a halfrevolution. The reverse movement of the piston carries the shaft through the other half of its revolution. A change of one eccentric changes the steam-feed to all the cylinders.

I do not claim herein the specific mechanism by which the position of the eccentric may be changed to control the valves simultaneously.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In a steam-engine,a pairofcylinderssupported on a single frame and at an angle to the driving-shaft, said cylinders having their axes parallel, ashaft journaled at the center of each cylinder, and a piston supported at each side of each shaft, said shafts being connected by a pitman to a crank on the main shaft, so that oscillation of the pistons produces rotation of the main shaft, steam and exhaust ports connecting to'the opposite sides of the pistons in the cylinders, and abutments in the cylinders between which the pistons oscillate, all combined substantially as described.

2. In a steam-engine, a pair of cylinders having axial shafts parallel to each other, a crank-shaft parallel to said axes, an oscillating piston at each side of and supported in each cylinder by the axial shaft, said axial shafts having pitmen connecting to cranks 0n the main shaft, abutments at each side of the oscillating piston, inlet and exhaust ports to said cylinders, and a valve controlled by one eccentric from the main shaft, and governing said supply and exhaust ports of each cylinder, all combined.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. LEPPER.

Witnesses:

NORMAN W. QUMMINS, JOHN D. WIRTII. 

